Advice on shutter speeds.

[JordanD]

I'm going to take some pictures tomorrow. I'm using a canon EOS rebel G. I was wandering if it would be best to use automatic mode or to set the shutter speed and all that stuff manually. If I do it manually, what shutter speeds are recommended for shots of planes moving (ie:taking off). Please reply as soon as you can so i can get some advice before I go out and take a roll of crappy pictures.

[seventwo]

You dont just use on shutter speed. Do you know what aperture is?

[JordanD]

No not really. Please elaborate.

[Brad1711]

Just use the P (Program) mode. You won't have time to fool around adjusting apetures and shutter speeds while you're shooting planes.

But if you're shooting them on the ground and decide to go manual, just remember the rule of thumb to keep the shutter speed greater than your focal length (i.e. if you're shooting at 300mm, you need a minimum of 1/300 second, preferably faster).

[YYZPICS]

since were on the shutter speed topic, whats a shutter speed that wont freeze the props of an a/c. 1/200?

[Brad1711]

since were on the shutter speed topic, whats a shutter speed that wont freeze the props of an a/c. 1/200?

Depends how fast the props are moving

[YYZPICS]

Depends how fast the props are moving

wow thanks alot man... lol, anyone know?

[JordanD]

Just use the P (Program) mode. You won't have time to fool around adjusting apetures and shutter speeds while you're shooting planes.

But if you're shooting them on the ground and decide to go manual, just remember the rule of thumb to keep the shutter speed greater than your focal length (i.e. if you're shooting at 300mm, you need a minimum of 1/300 second, preferably faster).

Thanks for your advice! Now the next challenge is to find a good spot.

[Felipe Garcia]

About the props.
I think that 1/125 and slower won't freeze it (1/250 and faster are the ones to tend to freeze the image.

For helicopters, 1/1000 will freeze the inner part of the props, the outer part will appear a little blurred

[Brad1711]

Thanks for your advice! Now the next challenge is to find a good spot.

Make sure you get your camera right up to the fence unless you're certain the plane will be high enough for you to shoot over the fence, or else you'll get something like this from my first attempt:

[jid]

As a rule the best thing I find is to work to your lens's sweet spot. By that I mean when it is at its sharpest. In my case this is between F8 and F10. So I use aperture priority and keep it at F8, then check that the shutter speed is at least 1/200. If it is lower than that I will increase the ISO until it gets to that speed. Of course this is for moving subjects only. Once you have mastered that then you can start reducing the shutter and enter the Dale Colman world of motion blur !!

Jid

[egll]

For shots of props like Fokker 50s etc I would go for 1/90th or less to achieve the blurred effect.

This was shot at 1/60th (F12@115mm)

[photoid=394475]



Matt

[JeffinDEN]

Just use the P (Program) mode. You won't have time to fool around adjusting apetures and shutter speeds while you're shooting planes.

Of course you will have time. Learn to use any mode other then P if you want to learn anything about what is going on with your pictures. More important then shutter and f stop is the exposure program. Try it out and learn which exposure program works best for where you shoot. Center weighted average seems to work well with white aircraft, as the camera will expose mostly for the white, while taking just a peek at the rest of the frame which should result in less blown out hightlights due to the camera being fooled by a high contrast dark background. Again, you will have to learn how each mode evaluates the scene and choose the most appropriate. This can be done quickly once you learn to manipulate the controls on your camera. As Matt mentioned, set your aperture to 6.3 - 8 and for a while let your camera determine shutter speed. Try setting differnt f-stops and learn what the effect of changing it does to your image.

But if you're shooting them on the ground and decide to go manual, just remember the rule of thumb to keep the shutter speed greater than your focal length (i.e. if you're shooting at 300mm, you need a minimum of 1/300 second, preferably faster).

More often then not, the above "rule" will probably let you down. It's better to learn how to pan and move with the aircraft smoothly which is more of a skill, practice will help improve it. Steady handholding must be learned with practice too. You can have your shutter set much higher then 1/300 and still get blurred images if you don't have good technique even if the plane is sitting still.

[JordanD]

Can anyone tell me what shutter speed to use though?

[Brad1711]

Okay Jordan, ignore my advice